Date: 19 September 2008
Location: North of Theatre entrance, Willamette University
Time: 1346-1400
Weather: 63˚F (where did the sun go?!!)
The plants that graced the entryway of the theatre have always intrigued me. I passed by the guardian beasts (white Chinese lions) at the front of the entrance several times, each time recalling my Art History class, but not once have I registered the tall 30-foot or more slender rods that lined the face of the building. The bamboos had yellow-green stalks, about 4 inches in circumference, with a notch at every one foot. At each segment, branches sprouted forth, each holding long e
lliptical leaves with parallel venetion similar to a grass blade. The oppositely arranged leaves grew at an upward slant, creating a spike effect. Interestingly, the structure and widths of the branches seems to resemble a lung. Thick trunks, followed by slender junctions, and then the finest of all that lead to a precariously adhered alveoli sac…err… I mean, leaf. Surrounded by the dark metal railing, the bamboos did not grow alone; a vine with ovate leaves appears to be dying off after attempting to scale the cage. The leaves were still green yet the vines themselves were frailly yellow. Despite the yellowed bamboo leaves and mulch covering the ground, weeds sprang up readily. They were 3 inches tall and had dark green leaves arranged radially around the stems. Small ferns also sprouted sporadically. I noticed that the bamboo seemed yellowish, but I was uncertain as to the cause, whether it has been the weather or if the color was what it appeared as a month ago. The stalks nearer the ground were curved, all in random directions. Could it be that they were planted poorly and not vertical enough? Maybe after their planting there was a strong wind that forced them to angle slightly in the ground? Was the sunlight varying during that time? But if it were, then most of the curves would be in similar directions. Too many questions, too few answers at hand.
No comments:
Post a Comment